Head of the African Development Bank, Adesina, Proposes "United States of Nigeria" Federalism to Achieve Restructuring In a statement provided to reporters on Saturday, Adesina's Special Adviser on Industrialization, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, made this request. In place of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, "The United States of Nigeria" is the new moniker that African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has suggested. In a statement provided to reporters on Saturday, Adesina's Special Adviser on Industrialization, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, made this request.

With a speech titled "Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist Policies and People-Centred Development," Adesina requested while introducing the 2024 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership laureate. According to him, renaming the country the "United States of Nigeria" would completely change the dynamic between the federal government and the states, with the latter acting as their support system rather than as a tyrant. "From our forgotten rural villages to our boisterous and dynamic urban areas," the statement says. From the lingering optimism in our adolescents' hearts to the desires that flare up in our children's eyes.

From the wishes of the elderly that our demise would be better than our history, and from the longings of our women, mothers, men, and dads for a better tomorrow. We have to start a movement of optimism that includes everyone from the tenacious street sellers and tiny companies to the biggest corporate empires. He continued, saying that "constitutional changes to devolve more economic and fiscal powers to the states or regions are necessary to achieve economically viable entities and the viability of the national entity." The federated units are stronger when the states or regions are stronger. According to Adesina, Nigeria has to be reorganized to emerge from its economic quagmire, and this restructuring should be motivated by financial and economic sustainability rather than political expediency.

"The necessary and sufficient conditions for political viability are economic and financial viability." Among the numerous qualities that made Chief Obafemi Awolowo unique, his visionary daring would have to be the one. He ventured where others were afraid or chose not to go. Decades later, his imprints are still visible in the sands of time. Similar to this, we need visionary individuals in Nigeria today who aren't afraid to make risky choices, the speaker stated. He pointed out that Nigerians paid one of the highest rates of implicit taxation in the world and that the people were disproportionately affected by large implicit taxes when governments or other institutions failed to provide essential services.